How to Stay Strong When Your Faith is Tested | Philippians 1:27-30
Today’s Episode: How to Stay Strong When Your Faith is Tested
Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30
Series: Philippians: The Unshakable Joy of Life in Christ
What does courage look like when Christ is your foundation? In this episode of Timeless Truth, Pastor Jim Thomas looks at Philippians 1:27-30. We discuss what it means to live a life “worthy of the Gospel,” standing firm in one spirit and finding courage in the face of opposition as we represent the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Jim’s Show Notes:
Paul calls the Philippians to stand firm — not through sheer willpower or moral striving, but through the power of the gospel. When our hearts are rooted in Christ, courage, unity, and faithfulness begin to grow naturally within the community of God’s people. In this passage, Paul shows us that living “worthy of the gospel” means aligning our daily lives with God’s mission, shaping our loves around what God loves. It’s a call to watchfulness, to steadfast joy, to unity of spirit, and to faithful action in the ordinary rhythms of life.
Anticipating our question, “Well, what does that look like?” Paul gives four characteristics of a life lived in a manner worthy of the gospel:
- Standing firm
- Unified in mind and spirit
- Working together for the gospel
- Unflappable in the face of opposition
Upon what do we stand?
“Our confidence is not in our love for Him, which is frail, fickle, and faltering, but in His love for us, which is steadfast, faithful, and persevering.”
John Stott
Christ’s love — not our performance — is the ground beneath our feet.
How is unity possible in such an acrimonious world?
“The Gospel deals not just with our alienation from God, but also with our sinful preoccupation with ourselves and our lack of loving concern for other people. One of the marks of the Gospel is that Christians are united in their care for each other.”
David Jackman
Unity is not a human achievement; it’s a gospel miracle.
What is the purpose of the church in this world?
“It is not so much the case that God has a mission for His church in the world, but that God has a church for His mission in the world. Mission was not made for the church; the church was made for mission — God’s mission.”
Christopher J. H. Wright
We don’t invent our mission; we join God’s.
How do we become unflappable in a world like ours?
“In the Scriptures, the wilderness — that challenging and chaotic place — is transformed into an arena of spiritual growth where leaders encounter the presence of God and become non-anxious presences in an anxious world.”
Mark Sayers
